Don't stop shila puja, warns VHP

Vishwa Hindu Parishad vice president Acharya Giriraj Kishore on Thursday warned of serious consequences in case the administration tried to create hindrances in the shila puja programme in Ayodhya on Friday.

He said that the Parishad would stage protest dharnas all over the country on March 16 in case the saints were stopped from performing puja and arrested.

He said that some saints and Members of Parliament would be reaching Ayodhya from New Delhi for taking part in the shila puja on Friday and hoped that 'good sense' would prevail on the administration.

Kishore said that the VHP would also give a call for Ayodhya Chalo, Mandir Banayenge from March 17 to 27 and saints would court arrest all over the country during this period in case they were not allowed to perform the shila puja on Friday.

While welcoming Thursday's Supreme Court order to maintain status quo in Ayodhya, he said had the court given permission for performing shila daan, it would not have caused any major problem.

Kishore charged the administration with acting in a vindictive manner and alleged that the deployment of 95 companies of the paramilitary forces in the temple town had thrown normal life out of gear.

Referring to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas president Mahant Ramchandra Paramhans' threat that he would commit suicide if prevented from shila daan, Kishore said that he had apprised the Uttar Pradesh Governor Vishnukant Shastri of the possible fallout of such an eventuality.

"The governor has said he is aware of the gravity of the situation and is trying to persuade the Mahant to withdraw his threat, but so far he (Mahant) is firm in his resolve," he said.

Kishore said that he would be proceeding to Ayodhya to take part in the proposed VHP programme on Friday, but expressed apprehension of being stopped midway.

"My security guards have also been withdrawn," he added.

When asked whether the VHP would demand the resignation of the central government, he said, "Why should we demand the resignation of a government, which is likely to fall due to its own misdeeds?"